Needles, Needles, Everywhere
Jan 12th
If you’re a knitter, then you know that needles are a kind of obsession. Nickle, aluminum, birch, bamboo, acrylic… the options are endless. And that’s just for tips. There’s DPNs (double pointed needles), straights, circulars. Then there’s fixed circular or interchangeable circulars. And do you get Denise or Addi interchangeable? KnitPicks or HiyaHiya?
Once you have all this figured out in a way that works best for you, then you have to figure out where to store all these bad boys.
I have an okay selection of all kinds of needles. I got a bunch of cheapo aluminum straight needles from my mom when I started knitting. But those don’t see much use and I keep them packed away, for the most part. I’ve found that even on projects that call for flat knitting, I prefer to use my circulars. I have some DPNs for times when you can’t avoid them (Kitchener stitch!), but again, I don’t particularly care to knit on DPNs. Too fiddly for my tastes. I have a KnitPicks nickle-plated interchangeable set that Kile got me for my birthday and I do use it fairly often, especially for those flat knitting projects I was mentioning. I also use them to “magic loop” most small circumference projects that can’t be knit with my 12″ circulars. This would include things like hats where you decrease down to 4 stitches or so.
But I’d say above and beyond, I love my 16″ and 12″ circulars. I even have a 9″ that a friend gave to me. I know there are some people that cannot abide knitting on such a small circumference. And here I would say it all depends on the needles. I am loathe to use any other 12″ circulars besides Addi (though I’ve seen the HiyaHiya’s are similarly styled). The needle tip is short and bent so you’re not as cramped with the knitting. I’ve found I can just fly though a project with those bad boys. The only problem is, it can be difficult to find 12″ Addi circulars. And there are no interchangeable sets that come with cables that small. (KnitPicks goes down to 24″, HiyaHiya goes down to 16″). The best place I’ve found so far is on eBay. Depending on where you look, you can get a really good price. Which reminds me, I think I need to order a few more.
Plainly put, though, it can be hard to find quality needles at your local craft store. It’s sad, but true. If you want something that you’re going to truly enjoy knitting with, you pretty much need to order it online (or pay out the nose at your local yarn shop, and even then, they might not have the sizes you need in stock!). Best to make peace with this now, before you frustrate yourself!
And, like I said, there’s the question of storage and organization. I’m still working on this myself. My interchangeable needles have a neat plastic pouch that they can be contained and organized in, but the rest of my circulars are pretty much operating at a “free for all”. I’m considering making this case, if I ever have the time. Or I might find one to buy.
So tell me: what is your solution to needle storage? And what are your favorite kinds of needles to knit with?
Under control
Oct 29th
If I’m sittin’, I’m knittin’. That’s my motto! I still need to get a good customs list up in my sidebar… be on the lookout for that. But do know that I am working hard at getting through it. And… today I feel very positive about it. I’m making good progress and as long as I keep my nose to the grindstone, I think I can do it.
The thing is, I need to have December for me and mine. I want to knit some Christmas presents and I want to have plenty of time to do that in. I’ve been very worried about getting through my list by then. I was waking up with a sore jaw from clenching it all night from the stress. That’s just goofy!
So what I’m going to do is just do all that I can do. Simple as that. I will work on my customs all month long and if there are any items left come December, those items will have to wait until the New Year. That’s it.
If you know you are on my list and are concerned with getting your items before Christmas, CONTACT ME NOW. Let me know and I’ll try my best to make sure I get to you. I hate to leave anyone in the lurch for a month, but I need to do it for my own sanity.
That said, I think I can get to what I need to get to, so hopefully it won’t be an issue. I feel good about it!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my knitting!
Swifts and Winders
Oct 25th
If you work with yarn a lot, you understand that a yarn swift and a ball winder are two incredibly useful and important tools to have. If you don’t have either, you want them. If you have them, you wouldn’t give them up for NO ONE. If you have one that doesn’t work very well.. that’s frustration right there.
I have a winder that isn’t working as well as it should. Which frustrates me because lately it has been winding some UGLY center-pull balls. Lopsided, loose… bleh. Frustrating! My swift was made for me by my husband. It’s not the fanciest, but it does the trick and sure beats wrapping it around my knee or the back of a chair like I used to.
Now if I had my druthers (I’ve never had the opportunity to use that word in a blog post before. I’m so excited!), I would get a “squirrel cage” swift. Have you ever seen one of those? Google it. And then drool. It’s a vertical swift and you can attach your winder to the top so it’s one, contained unit. Stick it in the corner out of the way and super easy to pull out when you need it. I’ve read countless accounts of people who have these swifts that say they wind all the skeins in their house when they get them, they’re so easy (and fun!) to use.
So yeah. One of those would be nice.
I saw an electric ball winder at Joanns from Boye and that was mighty tempting. Electric! No cranking! AWESOME. But then, I don’t trust Boye so much (needle snob) and what if something got tangled? You’d have a heck of a mess to sort out. Believe me, I’ve had to sort out some mighty scary yarn messes and that is NOT FUN. So maybe just a quality winder, like the ones that Royal makes. Or some of the custom ones I’ve seen on Etsy and around the web that allow you to wind BIG skeins. My winder is from KnitPicks and while the price was VERY right and it sure beats nothing at all, it makes those darned ugly yarn cakes. And makes me want to chuck it across the room on many an occasion. But I will admit it has gotten some VERY heavy use.
But yeah. Need a new one. OH yeah.
So if you knit, dye yarn, spin yarn, etc and so forth: what do you use? Do you like your swift? Hate your winder? I don’t want to hear from the people who don’t have either and see nothing wrong with not having either because I can’t relate to you people. No offense. But I question your judgment.
I’m not dead yet
Oct 22nd
Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
So it’s been a little while since I updated the ol’ crafty blog here and I apologize for that. I’d like to get better at keeping track of this site and perhaps even keeping my customs list updated. Up to now, I’ve been doing good to use a little iPhone application to keep track of my list, measurements, yarn, ruffles, etc and so forth. I’d like to try to update the list at least here as well. And, hopefully, I’lll be better able to keep track of just how much is on my plate. You know, before I take on more than I can handle.
*cough*
Fall is an enormously busy time for knitters. I’m not even what I would consider a “big name” in the cloth diapering/woolie community and I’ve been all but booked for months now. Everyone is busy pulling together their winter stashes for their children. Shorties and capris are packed away and longies and hats are the order of the day.
I’ve been up to my eyeballs in longies and hats, by the way. LOTS of cute stuff. Check out my flickr if you want to see some of my recent projects.
A few things on my radar:
- I’m going to be putting out a cabled longies pattern. This pants with a cable running down the outseam of each leg. Very cute! I just haven’t had a lot of time to work on the pattern like I’d like. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon. Stay tuned!
- I’m a licensed Riding Hood Sweater knitter! Stay tuned (again) for some future sweaters I’ll be churning out. I’m very excited about it!
- Speaking of sweaters, I tested Sugarbubbie’s new “Sleuthing Hoodie” in the big kids size for my oldest son! I don’t have any pictures yet, I’m going to give it to him for his birthday. But it came out super cute. And took a lot of yarn. And time. But awesome because it’s easily the largest thing I’ve knit so far.
- CUSTOMS! I’m up to my eyebrows in customs. Maybe after Christmas I’ll get a chance to slow down and take a breath. You think?
Anyhow, I’m going to try to update a little more, maybe spot light a few special projects and try to maybe integrate my customs list and keep it updated as to my progress. In the meantime, happy knitting!
Guest Vendor at Congfu
Jul 7th
I’m pretty darned excited. I’ m a guest vendor at Congfu on Hyena Cart this month. I’m a HUGE fan of Congfu and all the fabulous WAHMs that stock that congo each month. The talent is mind-boggling. And the mamas? Are sweet as honey. To be able to take part in a stocking is a huge honor and I feel quite humbled. In fact, seeing my works up there with some of theirs just seems to underscore how LUCKY I am.
I have two items plus two custom slots up for sale starting tomorrow afternoon at 4:00pm eastern time. The infamous bloomers skirty is a three-day auction, since I literally had no idea how to price it. I have had the idea to knit this for months now, and I originally began to knit it for Evie. Shoot, even now, if it doesn’t sell, I’ll happily keep it and use it for Evie. Either way, a lucky little girl will get this skirty because it is truly a unique and lovely item. If I do say so myself.
A lot of love and work and time went into this skirty. I had begun to knit the skirt in a more ‘a-line’ shape but the yarn, which is Western Sky Knits’ “Bella” on Gaia Organic Worsted, had begun to pool quite a bit. So I “frogged” it and reknit the skirt as a more “juliette” style. As you can see, it came out much nicer. The bloomers are knit with short rows and meant to have a full, baggy fit with a “cinched” cuff at the legs and a lacy ruffle with a picot edge. Wow. Just… wow. I almost can’t believe I knit it!
I’m also stocking a pair of board shorts knit in Mosaic Moon’s gorgeous “Woodland in Spring” colorway, on 3-ply merino.
These are super cute and if they don’t sell, I’ll be happy to use them on Liam! The legs are knit to be wide, very reminiscent of “board-shorts”, with the inseam reaching knee-length (or even a touch lower on my short-legged boy!). As always there are short rows in the back to allow for plenty of fluffy-cloth diaper bum room!
I’m excited and nervous all at the same time! It feels like playing in the big leagues. Wish me luck! And don’t forget, stocking is at 4pm tomorrow, July 8th!
Newborn Cuteness
Jul 7th
About a month ago, I knit some longies for a lovely mama out of Elliebelly’s “Sistine Chapel” colorway on Blue Faced Leicester. The yarn was spectacularly yummy.
There was a lot of question as to what trim color to pick. There are a lot of colors in there! But I found that some colors blended a little TOO well with colorway and made for a washed out look. I took the yarn to my LYS and the lovely woman there helped me find this wine-colored Cascade 220. It went GREAT with the yarn, and really made the colors POP.
It was about this time that the mama I knit these for found out she was expecting another baby! She asked if I could use the leftover yarn to make matching newborn sized longies. But of course!
They turned out darling and just as beautiful as their toddler sized counterparts. What a lucky new little baby that will be!
And I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the two pairs together. I can’t wait to see action shots of these pants, side by side!
And if that weren’t enough newborn cuteness, I also offered up my services to knit a lovely brand-new mama (for the first time!) a little set for the bean she is expecting here in several months. The longies and matching hat were knit on Dashing Dachs’ “Oyster Rock” colorway, on Stallion Merino yarn. Very soft and thick and perfect for a newborn baby!
The hat was knit with the ever fabulous and versatile “Holly Hat” pattern that I now fully and truly swear by. I plan to make about a bazillion of these for Christmas presents! Quick and easy and very cute. Plus, she has instruction for all sizes! Sweet!
And again, here is the whole set together. And yet again, I cannot wait to see action shots. Who can resist newborn fluff? Since I will be having no more newborns around here, I have to live vicariously through others, you know!
That’s all for now! Look for an update tomorrow that has some super cute things that will be for SALE this week! (Yes, I’m actually selling something I’ve already knit!)
Yet another game of catch-up
Jun 15th
I’ve been criminal about this crafty blog here. I have been SO busy knitting that I haven’t hardly had a chance to update it. And that is all my bad, mind you. It doesn’t take that long to post a finished project but here I am, I have a whole handful to post! BAD KNITTER!
First, check out this skirty, done in Sugar Bubbie’s “Silly Old Bear” colorway on Cestari Superfine. There was less than an ounce of trim yarn (on BFL, of all things!) so I had to dye some yarn for the trim myself. It came out a little more royal blue than the blue in the colorway but I think the contrast is striking and really brings out the reds and oranges.
Since I had extra trim available, I tried a lacey edge detail on the skirt and not only was it easy to do, but it looks so charming on the edge of the skirt! It requires some blocking when drying the skirt after washing but the end result is SO worth it!
Next up I have a pair of longies I made for a sweet mama who purchased a custom slot off my Hyena Cart. She had the colorway custom dyed on Cestari Superfine by Ewe Need Color and it’s called “Maverick”.
Striking, yes? I knit the body on size 8 circulars instead of my usual 7’s, because I felt the thicker yarn would behave nicer with it. I’m glad I did! It made for a quick knit.
I also have a custom knit soaker to share, which doesn’t happen that often. It’s knit with Mosaic Moon’s “Birthday Boy” also on Cestari Superfine. The trim is regular white Cascade 22o.
Such a pretty colorway! I tried a 2-stitch icord for the first time and was pleased with the results though it was more difficult to find a neat way to tie it off at the ends. I also tried a 1×1 ribbing on the leg cuffs which worked great and looked nice too.
Speaking of Mosaic Moon, I knit a pair of shorties with MM’s “Goblin” colorway (yep, Cestari Superfine… AGAIN). I completely adore the mama I knit these for and am incredibly honored that she asked me to knit them for her son. I only hope she enjoys them!
And I finish off with another skirty. This was also knit for a mama who purchased a custom slot from my HC and I had such a good time working with her. It was her first completely custom knitted item and she was nervous and excited. The yarn was custom dyed on BFL by a talented HC dyer (whose store name sadly escapes me at the moment) and it was named “Dryad’s Dance”. A perfect name for this ethereal colorway!
I did another 2 stitch icord!
I also did another lace edge detail on the skirt. I thought the colorway complimented it well.
I also put short rows in the back. I don’t usually do this for skirties as the pattern doesn’t really require it. But I’ve noticed that sometimes the skirt will hike up a little in the back so I thought the short rows might counter-act that.
And that gets me all caught up! I’m currently 2/3 of the way through a big custom outfit. It’s three pieces, including a top that I’ve never knit before. It’s coming along quite nicely though and I promise to post it as soon as I’m finished! I’m very proud of it! Then again, I’m proud of everything I knit.
Shorties Season
May 30th
I love knitting shorties. The pattern itself is very satisfying to knit and then the legs are several inches shorter than longies making them a relatively quick knit as well. Plus, they use less yarn so one 4 ounce skein of worsted yarn and a couple ounces of coordinating trim make for a cute, cute, CUTE pair of shorts to wear all summer long.
First up, we have a pair of shorts knit with Dashing Dachs’ “Oyster Rock” colorway on their Stallion Organic Merino (a bulkier weight yarn but oh so soft!).
The mama was hoping for board short length shorties which generall come to the knees or below. I fell about a half an inch short of the projected inseam since bulky yarn has less yardage than worsted. But they still came out longer than your average shorties and are definitely adorable on their new owner.
I also recently finished this pair of shorts which was knit with Western Sky Knits’ “Kelp Forest” colorway on their fabulous Rodeo BFL yarn. I just love BFL. I never get tired of knitting with it. This was a kettle dyed variation and completely reinforced my love of kettle dyed yarn. I just love the variations in the colors. And this colorway was very calm, soothing, cool and sweet. Perfect!
They came out super cute, don’t you think? I hope the mama that requested them loves them as much as I do. I may have to hunt down some of this yarn for my littlest boy. I think a pair of shorts like this would be perfect for him! (This of course assumes I ever have time to knit for my own children.)
I have my latest skirty that I need to share yet (it turned out FABULOUS) and I have even more pairs of longies (people are already looking ahead towards fall!) to share too. The fun never ends, I tell ya!
But most of all? I just love to knit. Why, oh why didn’t I start earlier in life? It is just a wonderful hobby. If you’ve ever considered starting, do it now!
The Infamous Rainbow Shine Capris
May 27th
This project has been MONTHS in the making. I remember when the mama who wanted these first PM’d me (I know her from a message board I frequent) asking if I would be interested in a) knitting her some shorties to match the Rainbow Shine diaper and b) willing to do it for Rainbow Shine yarn of my own. Uhm. YES! She didn’t even have to ask! Another mama on our board is also a proficient dyer of yarn (she has dyed the yarn for several of my projects thus far) and agreed to dye this yarn for us. There were many details to work out and we went back and forth on whether to do the yarn in stripes to more accurately reflect the fabric or not.
In the end, we went with the stripes for the custom shorties and I went with varigated yarn just to see what it would be like. I still haven’t had a chance to work with my varigated yarn, but the stripes? Were a success:
It was a lot of stripes. And a lot of ends to weave in when it was all said and done! The trim was a solid lavender and the stripes were two-toned colors to match the stripes in the fabric. The “white” was simply undyed yarn. The yarn base was Cestari Superfine which is always a pleasure to deal with and I know will hold up great for the mama who requested these amazing capris. They were going to be shorts initially, but she asked if I could make them a hair longer and have them be capris. No problem! I was actually having a good time refining my striping technique.
I have a few more customs I need to catch up on soon, which I will get to, I promise! I’ve just been so busy knitting that sometimes it’s hard to take the time out to come post these creations! I hope to get caught up and work on a few other kinds of posts as well. I’ll get to it… eventually!
April Bloom Skirty and a soaker
May 17th
This is my latest skirty, knit as a special custom for a special mama. I would have loved to have made the skirt even longer, but alas… ran out of yarn. In fact, there wasn’t a smidge of colorway left when I was done. It was a nailbiter.
The skirty was knit with Sugar Bubbie’s “April Bloom” colorway on Cestari Superfine yarn. I added rolled cuffs to the soaker (as seen above) and a row of trim crotcheted around the edge of the skirt, as per the mama’s request.
I’ve decided it’s pretty hard to make a skirty NOT come out nice. They’re foolproof, really. They always look good. And I always get a lot of credit when most of the really goes to both the yarn dyer and the pattern writer (Tia from Julibeans, in case you were wondering).
The big question is: Who woudn’t want one of these for their little girl? OMG, the cute! Also? Even cuter on the baby. Just trust me on this one.
I also found time in there to knit Evie a much needed soaker to wear at bedtime:
This was knit on a hand dyed bulky Gaia Organic Merino that was purchased off of Spot’s Corner. It’s a little heavy for summer shorts but I think it’s great for a soaker. This thing is bullet-proof!
I also took this opportunity to try a 1×1 ribbed cuff on the soaker and it’s sorta hard to tell on the bulky yarn but it came out very nice. It’s perfect for hugging those chubby little thighs and providing a little extra mess-protection.
Okay, so that’s it from here. For now. Stay turned for some seriously adorable shorts.
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